Unquestionably, Manti Te’o’s decision to return for his senior season was a wise one. Had he come out last season, he may have been the third middle linebacker off the board. But as a senior, he looked more fluid and active, particularly in coverage. Te’o is the distinct opposite of Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley in every fashion.
2013 NFL Draft middle linebacker rankings
Jonathan Daniel
Te’o may top the middle linebacker ranks, but he’s certainly not in a class of his own. Alabama’s C.J. Mosley turned into a playmaker this season. The leader of the Crimson Tide defense, Mosley has a penchant for making plays at opportune times.
Our third-ranked middle linebacker, Arthur Brown, may project more as an outside linebacker in the NFL. He’s a speed player who famously chased down Robert Griffin III in 2011, helping Kansas State upset Baylor. His playing style is reminiscent to Lavonte David of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
1. Manti Te’o | 6’2, 255 pounds | Middle linebacker | Notre Dame
2. C.J. Mosley | 6’2, 232 pounds | Middle linebacker | Alabama *
3. Arthur Brown | 6’1, 228 pounds | Middle linebacker | Kansas State
4. Alec Ogletree | 6’3, 232 pounds | Middle linebacker | Georgia *
5. Shayne Skov | 6’3, 251 pounds | Middle linebacker | Stanford
6. Nico Johnson | 6’2, 245 pounds | Middle linebacker | Alabama
7. Kevin Minter | 6’2, 242 pounds | Middle linebacker | LSU *
8. Kevin Reddick | 6’3, 240 pounds | Middle linebacker | North Carolina
9. Jon Bostic | 6’1, 246 pounds | Middle linebacker | Florida
10. Max Bullough | 6’3, 252 pounds | Middle linebacker | Michigan State *
11. Kiko Alonso | 6’4, 242 pounds | Middle linebacker | Oregon
12. Tom Wort | 6’0, 230 pounds | Middle linebacker | Oklahoma *
13. A.J. Klein | 6’2, 248 pounds | Middle linebacker | Iowa State
14. Andrew Jackson | 6’1, 262 pounds | Middle linebacker | Western Kentucky *
15. Chris Borland | 5’11, 242 pounds | Middle linebacker | Wisconsin *
16. Michael Mauti | 6’2, 232 pounds | Middle linebacker | Penn State
17. Will Ebner | 6’0, 230 pounds | Middle linebacker | Missouri
18. Bruce Taylor | 6’2, 235 pounds | Middle linebacker | Virginia Tech
19. Will Compton | 6’2, 230 pounds | Middle linebacker | Nebraska
20. Greg Blair | 6’2, 252 pounds | Middle linebacker | Cincinnati
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